#case-based live learning platform

[diy-languages]

Free Korean Learning Courses! : Part 1

-> These are some free resources I used or heard about a lot to learn Korean and what they include, there's probably way more! I'll make more parts in the future. There's also ratings and pesonal notes about each one, but again they're 'personal' so it might not be the same for everyone! That's why you should always try it yourself first.

-> These resources are or were fully free when I used them, if anything changed and they're no longer free I do not take any responsibility for possible accidental purchases, I recommend to always check first before processing with it.

Here we go:

GoodJobKorean — Full free Hangul Course, 12 Lessons, Videos (with pronunciation, etc) + Pdf Practice sheets (with some vocabulary) + Quizes to see if you understood each lesson.

Rating: 100/10 I tried and loved it, easy to understand and explained nicely. Really useful for beginners learning hangul!

A/N: You may have to rebuy it after a month (not sure because I finished it in less then a month and never logged back in) but It's still free (if not you can always just make another account to get it free again)

GoldenKeyKorean: Free Hangul course, pronunciation + 2H long master course (advanced and basic levels) with 2 pdf books

Rating: I personally did not try this one, but I'm pretty sure it's fully free (at least that's what I've seen), but he often does limited editions/limited time special free courses so it's better to check if the offer is still active and follow his instagram for future updates and courses.

Now Korean Class: Fully free 9 Korean courses with different levels (1-9) with multiple videos for each, explains sentence structures, grammar, counters, numbers, and way more.

Rating: 100/10, It really is free, multiple levels, sooo many different things to learn I absolutely loved it!!

A/N: You just have to rebuy it after a month but I'm pretty sure it's still free (if not you can always just make another account to get it free again). I recently lost acess to it, idk why I think my phone is lagging... It tells me something went wrong to try again later, lol, just in case some content changed etc I wouldn't know.

Koldoristudy: 3 different Free Korean PDF study sheets, 1 Hangul, 1 Vocabulary and 1 winter study, includes Grammar, stroke order guides and syllable blocks,

Rating: 10/10 Loved it, I thought it would be just some pdf files to boringly write hangul/words but It's actually way more! it explains grammar and some useful language rules!

Talk to me in korean: Multiple free podcasts on different platforms + PDF with grammar and vocabulary explained for different levels of learners, 7 days free trial with possible cancelation

Rating: 9/10 It's really good, I'm just not a big fan of podcasts as I have a short attention spawn LOL. I personally didn't try the 7-days free trial but they do have LOTS of different lessons and videos that seem to be amazing and useful.

A/N: personally I find their website really confusing, to make things easier you can try things like just typing "Talk To me In korean (Pdf level _)" on google and the first link should be the free pdf file, etc etc.

Loescen Learn Korean Website: Free Interactive web-based learning, important vocabulary, pronunciation beginner to intermediate level, basic conversation courses and dialogues

Rating: 8/10, so good!! It surprised me, I just wish it went more in deep about things like sentence structures and grammar instead of blindly learning dialogue lines or words without breaking them into steps for deeper understanding of the language.

A/N: works for other languages too!!

Live Lingua: Multiple free ebooks and audio files lessons, grammar, vocabulary, hangul, etc, beginner to advanced,

Rating: 9/10 Covers up a lot of different things like I said, grammar, vocabulary, etc etc, but AGAIN each course covers many subjects and it quickly feels heavy and too long/complicated/takes too much time (personally for me, as an individual with ADHD)

How to study korean: LOTS of grammar and vocabulary, beginners to advanced, multiple lessons, linked YT videos to reinforce lessons, PDFs, etc

Rating: 100/10 explains really well, SO MUCH STUFF, different levels, it's really awesome! Lessons are available in multiple languages and not just English!! However again I find it a bit intimidating as it really has LOTS of things to learn which make it seem hard and heavy...

A/N: Personally I find the website complicated to navigate 😭 just type "how to study korean lesson _" for easier access if you want and It should be the top results

Udemy TOPIK grammar through 100 patters: TOPIK vocabulary, grammar and conversations, 100 grammatical patters koreans use a lot

Rating: 8/10 really good, well explained, but again personally it feels pretty heavy and long, videos in Korean with English subtitles, however there are no English subtitles for "example sentences" which sucks, you need to know some basic vocabulary to really understand the example sentences used there.

Tomi Korean: Free PDF with 430 basic korean vocabulary (words, verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc) with audio files, free PDF Worksheet for hangul learning

Rating: 8/0 Love it, really nice for useful vocabulary but you'll have to willingly study the words cause the pdf only makes you write it once and it's really just Korean-English translations, but it has images so its good for visual learners too! Personally I also found it takes a lot of storage to download everything lol.

A/N: I did not check the hangul worksheet as I can already write and read hangul but little personal opinion/tip; I think GoodJobKorean is the best option to learn Hangul here, specially compared to this one. Yes I did not try this Hangul Worksheet but I believe GoodJobKorean offers more variated content and help (videos, quizes, etc) than what a PDF sheet has to offer, that's my opinion.

That's all so far!

Many of these courses have social media accounts where they post different content and tricks to learn, I'll be making a post about those in the future too!!

If anything changed since I first used these resources or if there's any misinformation in this post, please let me know!

[fellshish]

I have a question, and my name is Sal.

I grew up watching Coraline as a kid. It was my jam. I loved that movie, and I will forever say Henry Selick deserved more attention for making it.

I like the Dresden Dolls and Evelyn Evelyn (Amanda Palmer projects) I still have the songs stuck in my head. You know where this is going.

I know you said that fans of works should still enjoy the work even if the creator sucks. And I can do that with Kubrick and Aaron Fechter, but that’s because Kubrick is dead, and most of Aaron Fechter’s IP got ripped away from him and is gladly in the hands of the public (despite how much he likes to sue).

Gaiman (and Palmer) are still alive and/or profiting off their stuff. Not to mention, I want to bring attention to the situation and help bring justice to the victims. Yet everytime I post about it or reblog what someone else put into words what I think, I feel like I’m virtue signalling.

How do I handle it and is it bad that I keep thinking of the art that influenced me by them instead of what they did (in a way to soften the blow to how horribly they abused these women)?

(You can respond to this publicly, as I am sure people are thinking the same thing somewhere. I am sorry for dumping all this on you.)

hi sal!

sorry, this got long. your ask was so genuine and i was afraid of getting it wrong. 

i want to start this off by saying i am not the boss of anyone’s fandom experience. everyone gets to decide for themselves how they proceed after learning about the numerous women who have come forward against neil gaiman.

the things you mention are things i’ve struggled with too — last year when i first learned about it, when i listened to the podcasts and recently again reading even more detailed (and horrifying) news reporting.

these are also struggles shared by many fans in many fandoms of creators who were accused and/or controversial and/or convicted. for example many (trans) people i know have grown up loving harry potter, and have had to deal with their favourite writer waging a vendetta against trans lives. some still participate in the hp fandom without supporting her. they can’t help their hyperfixation and still find a lot of good and a lot of friends in the fandom. 

because yes, i do believe that someone can stay in such a fandom as ethically as possible. as in: i try the best that i can to make sure no further financial gains go to the creator. that means i avoid watching official streams, buying official merch, going to official cons, going to plays based on his work etc. i also amplify the women’s voices by spreading the article. 

the thing to keep in mind is: there is a difference and a distance between a creator and a fandom of what they created. a huge wall even. fandom is about community, friendships, creativity, … i am on a playground playing with the characters with my friends. sharing art and fics and gifs etc. and what those characters and stories mean to me are positive things. 

the core is this: if you have to live your life only consuming art by morally pure people (and who determines that?!) then you will have very little left to enjoy. 

and of course i understand the urge to want to help the victims, and the guilt/worry about virtue signaling. i’m going to break those down separately.

i think the idea of ‘helping bring justice to the victims’ is good but it also puts an unreasonable amount of responsibility on your young shoulders. here’s what’s already happened: the women’s voices have been heard, there is now more widespread media covering, he has lost his reputation, hasn’t been on his platforms since last summer, he’s losing (film) projects of his work, … what else consequences are yet to come, legally or otherwise, we’ll have to see. the responsibility for that lies not with you as one single fan but with lawyers etc. and you might find it important to keep vigilant that the story doesn’t get buried (again). in that case reblogging isn’t virtue signalling but useful.

but it’s also unreasonable to expect someone to continually do that for days and days. that’s a quick ticket to depression. ultimately tumblr is, to many, a fandom space. some people use it only for pleasant fandom activities. and what if they do? you can’t know a person’s whole life: maybe they are survivors who are too triggered to participate, maybe they’ve donated to causes that help survivors, maybe they have shared the story on other platforms etc

you asked “is it bad that I keep thinking of the art that influenced me by them instead of what they did”, and i found that the most heartbreaking part of your ask. it isn’t helpful to you or to anyone to keep torturing yourself with guilt. you’re aware of the allegations, and that’s good. but don’t burn yourself out trying to live up to the impossible standard of a morally pure activist that doesn’t exist. please stop being your own thought police. 

i think the fact you struggle so deeply, shows what a beautiful person you are.

now you’re going to be reading a lot of opinions. some very different from mine. am i right in continuing in fandom? i don’t know. this is my first time living life too. but i AM right that you’re a good person.

that said: protect your heart. block freely and curate a fandom space that makes you happy. avoid engaging in endless internet discourse that is bad for your mental health. step away for a while if that is what you need.

these are some intense days but i promise it gets better. the kid who loved coraline can still love coraline, but is just more informed now. 

the main rule of fandom is: does it spark joy? if yes, embrace it, because that’s a wonderful and rare thing to have.

[ckret2]

A symbol had been illegal for centuries. So illegal that it wasn't even drawn or described in the very law that banned it. Many people knew the symbol anyway; rumor had it that from time to time someone would see it in their dreams and feel compelled to recreate it. From childhood, everyone was warned that it was strictly forbidden to recreate any symbol you'd learned in your dreams, just in case one was the symbol. Kids got detention for doodling odd shapes, in case they were lying about whether they'd seen them in a dream, even when the teachers themselves weren't sure whether any of the doodled shapes were taboo. Every once in a while some bold rebel would take a dream symbol and carve it into a bench or spray paint it on a wall—but how could one know which one was demonic?

The otherwise secular government claimed the symbol was banned because it invited in a "demon" that wanted to destroy the world. There were, allegedly, both monks and scientists dedicated exclusively to searching for a way to permanently block entry to the demon. And there was, allegedly, a high suicide and insanity rate among these monks and scientists. Until they succeeded in their work, the law remained.

Some people railed against the ban—calling it absurd, backwards, primitive—every other law rooted in religious belief had been abolished decades ago, why not this one? The controversy had most recently flared up a few years ago when a politician had campaigned for governorship on a platform of repealing the ban, along with several dozen other laws he said unduly restricted the people's freedoms and civil liberties. "Where is this demon," he'd asked in a televised debate, his yellowed eyes darting around the room. "Can anyone produce him? Can you prove he's real? Why are we deciding national policy based on superstition?"

When he'd lost the election, he'd called a press conference, railed against the ignorant voters—"what's so liberating about democracy if you vote against your own freedom?"—and then held his fingers in front of his eyes. All the cameras had cut within a couple of seconds, but not before catching his shrill, taunting laugh.

In rebroadcasts of his scandalous speech, his face was censored by a thick black square. The disgraced politician killed himself in police custody. He'd wrapped himself tight in his cloak and set it on fire. She thought about that a lot—what it would be like to feel flames crawling up your limbs.

Enough kids at school had happened to see the live broadcast that they could teach the symbol to other kids when they thought the teachers weren't looking.

And that was how Pyronica had learned the forbidden symbol: a single eye inside a triangle.

Today, she pulled out a can of spray paint she hadn't yet converted into a makeshift flamethrower and followed in the footsteps of countless weird little girls across the multiverse seeking a remedy for their rage:

She tried to summon a demon.

[legallyacceptibleurl]

i keep seeing this stupid fucking take propagated

ID: screenshot of a tumblr post. @paraparathecow asked: (a screenshot of text that reads: “desperately need your support. 🙏 Achieved 25500 kr/ 200000 kr, My account was verified by@\gazavetters, @\90-ghost & Voices from Gaza on X.,1100kr=100$.”) @paraparathecow: “Man, I sure do wonder why the poor poor gazans are gathering money using swedish krona of all currencies... At least they got the conversion rate right...” @homochadensistm: “But she was verified!! Bsbshjdhdd” END ID.

if you genuinely think a fundraiser being based outside of palestine is some sort of “gotcha“, that it “proves” that the fundraisers are “scams”, then you are either really dedicated to keeping yourself ignorant or someone who enjoys lying to fuck over people in need.

ID: two screenshots, the first showing that it’s a post @prismatic-bell reblogged, and that the original poster is @bsof-maarav. the second screenshot is a section of the post. @bsof-maarav: “Also reported to gofundme, I'm sure they will be interested in why this campaign is listed as being located in Texas, USA while the campaign narrative places the individual in Gaza. And I'm sure they will be further interested in knowing that I heard about it from an unsolicited spam-type message from an unknown account on social media.” END ID.

is anyone actually claiming that the fundraisers are based in palestine? who is saying that? genuinely who is saying that because i don’t know why this is such a prevalent fucking issue for people.

ID: @luckyletd0wn: “every donation that goes to a scammer is a donation stolen from gaza. gofundme does not even operate in palestine, someone from there cannot set up their own gofundme. i cannot believe the people falling for the constant scam asks. you're handing desperately needed donations to modern age nigerian princes. please i beg of you, learn some media literacy. thousands upon thousands of dollars have gone to scammers "vetted" by other scammers. some even admit to having their accounts banned for scamming and drop their new accounts!!!!” END ID.

i assumed it was common knowledge that the fundraisers were set up by family/friends/organisations/helpful people in one of the countries where gofundme operates.

but don’t take it from me, here’s one of their fellow liberals explaining it

ID: @cardassiangoodreads: “There was one case where a popular anti-scam post got things wrong - or more accurately, was "correct" but missed the point (pointing out that gofundme doesn't operate in Gaza, which is true, but to suggest none of the fundraisers are legit, which is false) and someone reblogged to correct them (that the legit gofundmes are run by relatives and friends in supported countries, not in Gaza itself - that's basically the only way people are getting out of there, having people on the outside send them money in order to do so).” END ID.

but hey don’t take it from some random tumblr liberal either. here’s time magazine explaining it

MARCH 25, 2024. Emphasis mine, plain text at the end of the post, under the cut.

“As a result, more Palestinians have increasingly turned to online crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe or JustGiving. A GoFundMe spokesperson told TIME that the platform has seen more than 12,000 active fundraisers for Palestinians in Gaza launched since Oct. 7, collectively raising $77 million to date. In addition to evacuation efforts, these campaigns have also been launched to fund access to humanitarian relief such as medical care and food, particularly as funding to formal aid organizations like UNRWA has been cut in various countries.”

[…]

“Because the platform can only be used in 19 countries, however, many of the Gaza-related campaigns are set up in Europe or North America. While some campaigns, such as Tareq's, are led by friends and relatives who live abroad and want to help on the ground, others have been created by activists or as collaborations between charities who rally a well-established network of donors and friends on social media or via public appeals.

In every crowdfunding case, Palestinians will rely on contacts abroad to help set up the campaign and receive donations on their behalf. In return, the platform benefits from the campaigns by charging donors 30 cents per contribution and keeping 2.9% of the total donation. “As fundraising for Gaza increases, we will continue to dedicate more resources to helping people help each other,” the GoFundMe spokesperson told TIME.”

[…]

“Despite the rising popularity of crowdfunding as a means of aid, many campaigns remain underfunded. 24-year-old Noor Hammad was once a nutritionist in Deir al-Balah, but now, she is desperate to escape Gaza after her home was heavily bombarded and she gave birth to her daughter in Rafah in January. “I lost everything in this war,” she said in a WhatsApp message. “I need to leave because I have a baby now, I need money to buy food for her.” To help Hammad, a Sydney-based journalist set up a GoFundMe campaign earlier this month to raise $27,000, which will be sent to Hammad’s brother in Sweden. So far, the fundraiser has raised just $2,580.

Even when campaigns raise enough funds, other challenges in ensuring Gazans can access and receive the money persist, especially as Western governments have introduced sanctions against Hamas. As a result, GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms are now required to comply by asking organizers for extensive information about to whom, and where, the money is going. Any individuals or groups who don’t pass a test screening for money laundering or terrorist financing are likely to be put on government-run lists. “

[…]

“The means through which money is transferred to Gazans is also complicated. A few wire services like Western Union are still operating in the besieged territory, but for many, a more viable option is to have the money sent to someone outside Gaza who can withdraw the cash and travel to Egypt. There, the money is paid to brokers who facilitate evacuations.

In February, Tareq and his family raised $20,000 and were finally able to leave for Egypt, where they are currently seeking refuge. But now, the 16-year-old says he needs to find the money to relocate to Canada, where his family can apply for asylum. Above all, the 11th grader—who was months ago participating in international student competitions—hopes to re-enroll in school to complete his education. He plans to make a new GoFundMe campaign in the coming weeks to raise money for the cost of visa applications, flights, and other expenses.

“The GoFundMe really helped with the evacuation and I am full of hope for the future,” he says. “But the circumstances have led Gazans to crowdfund because they lost a lot, and they continue to lose a lot”.”

Is every blog asking for funds legit? Sadly no. Do the people doing the vetting want you to just donate to each and every person who asks nicely? That’s really easy to check actually, surprising i know.

ID: @\el-shab-hussein on 30/1-2024: “As a rule of thumb, don't reblog donation posts or people asking for donations unless they've been vetted and reblogged by Palestinian bloggers. We usually go to lengths to verify this shit because we know scammers have been faking to get people to send them money, using the urgency of our genocide as bait.” END ID.

The answer is “no”. Imagine that.

hello. it feels nice and cozy under a readmore doesn’t it? like i’m inviting you into my pillow fort. be careful so you don’t rip down any of my blankets, i’m turning on the fairy lights so i can show you the article i was talking about. yk while we’re down here, i might as well post the whole article, right? i’m sure time doesn’t mind.

Palestinians Have Turned to Crowdfunding Platforms for Survival

MARCH 25, 2024.

In December, Tareq watched his entire life in Gaza get reduced to rubble. “The school I attended since first grade, the street I walked on daily, my neighborhood—they all collapsed into memory,” the 16-year-old tells TIME. With a sinking feeling, he realized that no immediate ceasefire would be brokered in the Israel-Hamas war, and the only way he could escape the horror was by evacuating Gaza. “I never imagined being forced to leave home, but it felt inevitable, like a cruel twist of fate,” he says.

U.N.-backed global monitors have issued warnings that “mass death is now imminent” in the besieged territory with acute food shortages exceeding famine levels. For most Palestinians like Tareq (who asked his last name be withheld for safety purposes), fleeing Gaza is seen as the only way to escape Israel’s bombardment, which has now entered into its fifth month.

But evacuation is not an easy or affordable feat. The only official way to cross the Rafah border, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the occupied territories, is with Israeli approval. The border is currently under an Egyptian-Israeli blockade, and evacuation is permitted only to foreign passport holders or seriously wounded patients.

Under a parallel, informal system, however, Palestinians can pay travel brokers in Egypt to get on a list of people approved for permits to leave. The fees for evacuation are often exorbitant sums ranging from $6,000 to $12,000 per person, and those looking to flee must also navigate scammers and misinformation with no guarantee of success, according to sources who spoke with TIME, as well as recent media reports.

As a result, more Palestinians have increasingly turned to online crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe or JustGiving. A GoFundMe spokesperson told TIME that the platform has seen more than 12,000 active fundraisers for Palestinians in Gaza launched since Oct. 7, collectively raising $77 million to date. In addition to evacuation efforts, these campaigns have also been launched to fund access to humanitarian relief such as medical care and food, particularly as funding to formal aid organizations like UNRWA has been cut in various countries.

That is how Tareq—who fled his home in November with his parents and three younger siblings after it was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes—found money for his family’s escape. After taking refuge in a U.N. shelter, he launched an online campaign on GoFundMe in December with a fundraising goal of $25,000—enough money to cover his entire family’s entrance fees to Egypt and temporary living expenses. A family friend in New Orleans helped set up the fundraiser; an aunt in Canada became the recipient for the donations to transfer the money to the family directly.

“Thank you very much for your generosity, solidarity, and kindness, your support is much appreciated and encouraged,” Tareq wrote on his fundraising page. “Your donation will make an essential impact on me and my family to live safely and have a better future.”

Crowdfunding for survival

Over the past two decades, online crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe and JustGiving have become vital sources for mutual aid and charity efforts to raise funds for everything ranging from medical emergencies and hunger relief to small business loans. In the Ukraine war, they have been essential in co-funding Ukraine’s defense campaign against Russia. “Ukrainians elevated crowdfunding’s significance to match the existential threat they face,” wrote Olga Boichak, a senior lecturer in digital cultures at the University of Sydney.

Because the platform can only be used in 19 countries, however, many of the Gaza-related campaigns are set up in Europe or North America. While some campaigns, such as Tareq's, are led by friends and relatives who live abroad and want to help on the ground, others have been created by activists or as collaborations between charities who rally a well-established network of donors and friends on social media or via public appeals.

In every crowdfunding case, Palestinians will rely on contacts abroad to help set up the campaign and receive donations on their behalf. In return, the platform benefits from the campaigns by charging donors 30 cents per contribution and keeping 2.9% of the total donation. “As fundraising for Gaza increases, we will continue to dedicate more resources to helping people help each other,” the GoFundMe spokesperson told TIME.

Just before last Christmas, Mansour Shouman, a Palestinian-Canadian journalist based in Doha, started a crowdfunding campaign with a team to raise $1.2 million for urgent humanitarian needs like food, water, clothing, tents, and hygienic products. The 39-year-old has so far raised just over $1 million in donations toward the goal.

Shouman, who has over 300,000 followers on Instagram, says he began fundraising shortly after making videos about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “A lot of people responded by asking how they could help,” he says. “So we started slowly creating a way in which people would donate through different means to support different projects in Gaza.”

Much of the money raised by Shouman’s fundraiser has been sent to local charities in Gaza, like the Palestinian Ethan Society for Community Development, who then purchase mattresses, tents, water, food, and redistribute the funds in the form of cash donations. Shouman says the focus has also shifted from the south to northern Gaza, where the famine has grown worse with each day. “We want to ensure that we can feed the starving population there,” he says.

In early February, a group of U.S.-based activists started a grassroots movement called Operation Olive Branch, or OOB, to help with the overwhelming number of crowdfunding requests from Palestinian families. So far, OOB has assisted close to 800 families to reach their fundraising goals.

“The families behind the fundraisers are experiencing acute starvation, illness, and trauma more extreme than any of us can imagine,” the group told TIME, adding that its role was to “center and amplify families’ direct aid requests by tapping the talents of a large and growing network of social media activists.”

But it adds that while fundraising platforms like GoFundMe have been “key to the autonomy and fundraising success of Gazan families” with the help of the diaspora who can act as beneficiaries to assist their affairs remotely, “having direct access to their donations would make a life-saving difference for these families.”

Challenges persist

Despite the rising popularity of crowdfunding as a means of aid, many campaigns remain underfunded. 24-year-old Noor Hammad was once a nutritionist in Deir al-Balah, but now, she is desperate to escape Gaza after her home was heavily bombarded and she gave birth to her daughter in Rafah in January. “I lost everything in this war,” she said in a WhatsApp message. “I need to leave because I have a baby now, I need money to buy food for her.” To help Hammad, a Sydney-based journalist set up a GoFundMe campaign earlier this month to raise $27,000, which will be sent to Hammad’s brother in Sweden. So far, the fundraiser has raised just $2,580.

Even when campaigns raise enough funds, other challenges in ensuring Gazans can access and receive the money persist, especially as Western governments have introduced sanctions against Hamas. As a result, GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms are now required to comply by asking organizers for extensive information about to whom, and where, the money is going. Any individuals or groups who don’t pass a test screening for money laundering or terrorist financing are likely to be put on government-run lists.

These processes have slowed aid efforts, according to a report by The Verge, which found that organizers and donors had been dealing with “heavy-handed moderation” and “inconsistent policies.” In response, GoFundMe issued a notice in March explaining how organizers could get around the extra red tape and avoid any delays, adding that it would comply with laws and regulations to “make the flow of funds from donors to beneficiaries as fast as possible.”

The means through which money is transferred to Gazans is also complicated. A few wire services like Western Union are still operating in the besieged territory, but for many, a more viable option is to have the money sent to someone outside Gaza who can withdraw the cash and travel to Egypt. There, the money is paid to brokers who facilitate evacuations.

In February, Tareq and his family raised $20,000 and were finally able to leave for Egypt, where they are currently seeking refuge. But now, the 16-year-old says he needs to find the money to relocate to Canada, where his family can apply for asylum. Above all, the 11th grader—who was months ago participating in international student competitions—hopes to re-enroll in school to complete his education. He plans to make a new GoFundMe campaign in the coming weeks to raise money for the cost of visa applications, flights, and other expenses.

“The GoFundMe really helped with the evacuation and I am full of hope for the future,” he says. “But the circumstances have led Gazans to crowdfund because they lost a lot, and they continue to lose a lot”.

[matrix-fairy]

💫 MATRIX OF DESTINY COURSE

At home, on the go, during a break…

This course is designed to be fully accessible anytime, anywhere. With written materials and guided support, you’ll learn the Matrix of Destiny system step by step — at your own pace.

✔️ We don’t stop at theory.

✔️ You’ll practice through real-life examples, case studies, and hands-on exercises.

✔️ And you’ll never walk alone — every step comes with personalized guidance.

📘 Course Structure

• The course will be delivered entirely through written content.

• All materials will be provided as PDFs, explanatory texts, and visual guides.

• Each topic will be explained step by step in a clear and simple language.

• At the end of each section, practical mini-assignments will help reinforce your understanding.

• Each participant will receive individual attention. You will get personalized feedback and guidance throughout your learning journey.

• Communication with participants will take place via Telegram, and all questions will be answered in writing.

• Periodic checklists and supporting materials will be shared to help track your progress.

• By the end of the course, you are expected to have the knowledge and practice needed to fully analyze a Matrix from start to finish.

• To support this goal, a final project will be required: you’ll conduct a full Matrix analysis based on a selected birth date.

• The course is conducted exclusively via Telegram — no additional apps or platforms are necessary.

• You will have lifetime access to all materials. You can revisit and review the content anytime you wish.

During the course, you will learn to:

�� Understand what the Matrix system is, its origins, and how it works

• Explore the meaning of the 22 energies and their roots in Tarot, numerology, and esoteric systems

• Convert numbers into energy and reduce values above 22 using the Matrix logic

• Analyze a person’s innate talents and spiritual potential

• Discover past-life karmic debts and how to resolve them

• Identify the root causes of current life challenges

• Decode how someone interacts with society and their environment through energy patterns

• Spot financial blocks and unlock abundance potential

• Analyze recurring relationship patterns and karmic ties

• Understand soulmate energy and how to identify compatible partners

• Determine ideal career paths based on energetic signatures

• Interpret ancestral karmas from both maternal and paternal lineages

• Examine inherited emotional patterns and family cycles

• Dive deep into the positive and negative traits of all 22 energies

• Apply behavioral tools to balance each energy

• Distinguish between personal, generational, and daily karma

• Recognize karmic patterns in parent–child and partner dynamics

• Calculate your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th life purposes and what ages they influence

• Align with your life path, social role, and soul-level contribution

• Understand 10-year energetic cycles and how they shape transformation

• Track 5-year rhythms that support change and realignment

• Calculate your yearly Matrix and read the energetic tone of the year

• Track month-by-month and day-by-day energetic influences

• Prepare for crisis years and major turning points

• Check energy suitability for events like marriage, separation, or new beginnings

• Analyze money flow, career direction, and earning potential

• Work on wealth expansion by unlocking supportive energies

• Build your personal health matrix and assess energetic blocks in the body

• Map Matrix points to chakra imbalances and spiritual wellbeing

• Read your own chakra-energy alignment through Matrix calculation

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[sashketter]

His pauldron remained

Summary: Rex leaves a piece of his armor with you.

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: Implied established relationship, a little fluff, a little angst. Gender-neutral reader. Fully SFW.

Notes: My first fic! This takes place immediately after season 3 episode 7 of The Bad Batch (“Extraction”) and jumps ahead twice, first to the middle of the Rebellion and then to the start of the New Republic. I’m obviously still processing the loss of Rex’s pauldron lol

“Rex!”

You called out to him from the edge of the small airfield. He was facing Howzer and Echo at the end of the Remora’s platform, his back to you. He turned at the sound of your voice, and even at this distance, you could see the right corner of his mouth tug up. Echo nodded and directed Howzer towards a group of clones to their right. Rex started towards you, the jaig eyes of his helmet peeking out from under his left arm.

“You left this behind,” you said as you lifted Rex’s pauldron from where it hung down by its straps over your left shoulder. You stretched it out to him and closed the distance between you.

Rex sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Weariness seemed to sag his shoulders. He stared down, eyebrows furrowed, at the piece of his armor balanced in your hands.

Noticing his posture, you looked around and asked, “Your men… The mission failed?”

Rex met your eyes briefly before shaking his head and averting his glance to his left. The sadness in his features shifted to contemplation. “Yes, but it brought us some intel.”

Before you could push further, Rex rapped a knuckle on the scorched blue material in your left hand. “I left that for you,” he said. A smirk spread across his face and wrinkled his eyes, softening his gaze on you.

Your eyebrows shot up in shock, then down in confusion. “Uh, if this is your way of promoting me,” you leveled the pauldron and its straps across your collarbones, “you should know this won’t fit. And not just literally, captain.” You hummed his title a litter lower in your throat.

His smile faded, lips thinned into a taut line. “No, I don’t need it anymore,” he mused, eyes downcast. “The rank that came with this,” he pinched the straps, “doesn’t exist without the Republic. We’re all equals now.”

You watched a haze of emotions flicker across his face before he lifted his eyes back to yours and smiled again.

“Besides,” he slinked a step closer to you and dropped to a murmur that rumbled in his chest, “I had to tell you I’d be back without waking you.” The knuckle of his right forefinger came up to gently tap your chin upward.

As his hand came down, you let out a shy huff and smiled into his gleaming face. He could’ve left a note on your desk or a message with one of his brothers, but you knew instantly the weight of this gesture: he trusted you with a piece of himself, a part of his past that he was learning to live without in this brand-new galaxy. You gathered the pauldron and its straps into your hands and hugged it to your chest. “I’ll keep it safe,” you promised.

~~~

Years passed as bases of operation were abandoned and reassembled throughout the galaxy, the proto rebellion ever on the run from the Empire’s probe droids. As the movement’s numbers grew, your belongings dwindled. Papers and pillows and plenty of extra weight were shed to improve speed and efficiency. You could fit most of your things into one bag, ready to be slung across your back at a moment’s notice, but you still used a second larger case to carry supplies necessary to acclimate to each new planet’s environment. Buried beneath various coats and oxygen masks and rappelling rope was Rex’s pauldron, always the last item to be unpacked and hung in your sleeping quarters.

You had lost track of Rex awhile ago, but kept his pauldron where he could most easily pick it back up. At least, that’s what you told yourself - you promised, after all - but you knew that beyond the words that had passed between you, from late night whispers to hastily scribbled notes, you kept it as a reminder of him and the hope you had kindled together.

“What’s that,” someone would inevitably inquire, piqued by the antique armor.

“It’s a friend’s,” you had said for a year, before acknowledging instead, “It was a friend’s.”

Most probed no further, satisfied with the assumption that the memento’s owner had died. After all, most in the Rebellion had lost at least one person to the unyielding Empire; meaningful keepsakes were common. Those who pressed further were met with the story of Rex and his activities during those early years of Imperial control: how he and his brothers had set up a small network of militaristic strongholds hidden in the ruins of the Clone Wars, equipped them with Republic technology salvaged from decommissioned cruisers - the same ships they had manned and traversed the galaxy in for years - and essentially laid the foundation for the ground operations of the current iteration of the Rebellion. You hammered home that last point especially hard for those unfamiliar with the clone captain. If he is dead, you thought, his memory should live on.

Years passed, and his pauldron remained.

~~~

Galaxy-wide celebrations after the Battle of Endor lasted for weeks, but for some, the work was just beginning. Building a New Republic would be a different fight altogether, one that required skills more subtle than shooting blasters. Nonetheless, some members of the Rebellion came forward to help.

You were still finding your place in peacetime when your former general, now distinguished senator, summoned you to her office. A short flight brought you to Coruscant, which for all the upheaval of the past two decades, seemed almost like it had been during the Republic. Glittering surfaces above hid neon darkness below, with every species of the galaxy converging on its streets.

Walking the halls of the Senate building, however, felt less familiar. All the finery of its members couldn’t replace the emptiness left behind by the time that had passed. Unlike some, you remembered the Republic before the wars, before legislative bills and secret motions had set the galaxy on a course to be undone and remade into something to survive. Ghosts from a lifetime ago lingered most potently where change originated. I wonder if he ever came here, you wondered idly. He would’ve hated it.

Senator Organa wasted no time in offering you a position as one of her aides. She was detailing the job’s responsibilities when another senator, breathless with news, entered and urged her to the lower chambers. I might not be cut out for this, you thought as she left the room.

You waited in front of her desk, standing at attention out of habit and cataloguing the contents of the senator’s shelves, when a familiar voice drifted from the doorway behind you. His honey dulcet tones matched the golden haze filtering through the windows and silhouetting the room.

“Still got my pauldron?”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

H/T to @fox-trot for this post re: clone bases. I was thinking the same, although I’d go a step further and argue the clones set up the earliest Rebel bases. I just love the idea of remnants of the Republic haunting the Empire by forming the foundation of the Rebellion.

And I know we don’t technically see a fully formed, cohesive Rebellion until circa Rebels and Andor, but I also like to think there were several attempts at a coalition that failed, or at least smaller cells like Saw Gerrera’s that had been operating independently, for years before. Hence “proto rebellion” and then “the current iteration of the Rebellion” (emphases added lol) 😇

[sysmedsaresexist]

Hello there!

Im coming from a place of genuine curiosity; I have a genuine interest in Psychology but im still very new to the topic. At the same time I have multiple friends who are Plural, ranging from DID to Endogenic and I have been trying to learn to better understand em but also myself.

I am a bit confused with regards to certain stances or understanding what you are trying to imply, I apologize if this is something you've made obvious in the past.

You've done a 180 from your old Anti-Endo stance yet looking through some posts I feel like a lot of evidence you share would be against Endogenic Plurality no? Mind ya I know your focus is still mainly CDD systems so there wouldn't be much opportunities to share research on that, but im regardless confused at what appears to me like a back and forth on the validity of Endogenic and the stance the Plural community has on including multiple systems under its umbrella... or am I misunderstanding some things? (I do struggle with sarcasm so apologies).

Apologies should this come off as confrontational, im just a bit confused reading through the various posts.

You're not coming off as confrontational! Though I'm not completely sure I understand the question. I'm going to try my best!

The beliefs of the mods on this blog vary. We all have different ideas about how CDDs work and what's possible in and outside of them. This makes us a really great team for tackling some of the more complicated questions where we can showcase a few different opinions.

I think, generally, we're in agreement about a few core things.

CDDs are childhood trauma disorders. That won't change. That's just a fact. This is in the DSM.

In my opinion, CDDs are not plural and should NOT be included under the plural umbrella. I think lumping a traumatized and disordered group of individuals under an umbrella specifically meant for non disordered experiences is a bad idea. TPA, I'm looking at you telling CDD systems they're not allowed to have personhood for benefitting from a medical view.

Some of this shit hurts. Like not just hurts the CDD community, but it's a punch to the gut.

Also, in my opinion, and living comfortably alongside that, plural and CDD experiences overlap for some people, but this isn't universal and shouldn't be treated as such. It does happen, though, and those experiences are valid and should be respected. I don't go into conversations looking to change minds or prove someone is traumagenic, I'm genuinely interested in hearing about people's experiences and trying to reconcile my own beliefs and ideas with new information. Occasionally, this is a mutual exchange of ideas, and minds DO change. Sometimes mine, sometimes theirs. This isn't a case of turning pros to antis or vice versa with gotchas, though. I've shifted my mindset from arguing to simply sharing as much information as I possibly can. Everyone should be armed with all the accessible information. These arguments would be a lot less volatile if we all had access to the same base articles and info.

In my opinion, there's still a lot of rampant misinformation in pro/endo communities. TPA makes me want to tear my hair out.

My belief in this needed separation does nothing to invalidate endogenic systems, and doesn't say they can't exist. The misinformation I'm talking about isn't their existence.

I think I'm actually the only blog to have a post dedicated to links about the Stanford tulpa studies. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone else compiled them for easy access and linking.

My blog is still focused on CDD research and correcting some of the myths and misinformation, but I don't think this invalidates endogenic plurality in any way.

I do, on occasion, post research into endogenic systems, but that isn't my focus. I would actually say my focus has shifted to interacting with anti endos to introduce them to some of the ideas that helped open my mind.

I am NOT the most pro endo system on this platform, but I am pro endo--

And I am trying to act as that bridge between communities with the best intentions possible. I know, I know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but I... ultimately hope that in the end, I help both communities, in my own unique way.

At the very least, I don't want to cause more harm for either community.

My unique way, though, does not discount the existence of plurality, it's just not my focus, and I'm still battling basic misinformation in the process, which can get... messy. At times.

I hope this answers the question, genuinely, feel free to come back to talk more!

[hearvex]

can i ask for this Juan guy lore :v i saw his tweet when it had like 3k and thought it cant be good but i dont know anything about him. its upsetting to see 12k likes tho like why are people fighting against human fights tho

oh this is a long one, who's Juan Guarnizo, the streamer who has recently tweeted against the french union in regards of the qsmp.

juan guarnizo is a colombian streamer (who now lives in mexico with his wife). he's participated in Tortillaland, a roleplaying minecraft series, as a wizard of sorts. He then decided to create a "spin-off" series (more cinematic/pre-planned) called "El Dios de Todo" (The God of Everything, his character's catchphrase). So he partnered with Euphonia, a popular Minecraft Studio that has created games such as SquidCraft, Dedsafio, SawMinecraftGames, and more.

He announced he was looking for several roleplayers for this project, and people started complaining on twitter because some of the requirements were pretty much insane.

Some include, full availability for 6 hours a day everyday for an entire month, good quality microphone, not being able to livestream the content, just record it to be used after the proyect was released, knowing how to rhyme/rap/sing/imitate voices and animals/general voice acting talent and being able to improv. All of that for the price of 0$. The payment? The enriching experience of being part of this unpayed proyect with your favorite content creator.

Well turns out people still didn't like this idea, justifiably so, and continued to call him out on twitter. His initial response was as follows:

(Hello, I understand that you know little about the project so I'll explain it to you: The God of Everything is a series based on a story that we will tell in the most cinematic way possible, therefore it is only possible to have one pov and not 40. Participants will be able to take advantage of the series on different social media platforms but not live. How much benefit they decide to get out of it is up to each person. The 6 hours a day thing is insurance, because there will most likely be days where your participation is half an hour and that's it. Also making it clear that professionals such as voice actors who will also be in the series will be paid for their work. We are creating an experience never seen before for me, the roleplayers and the audience, whoever wants and can experience it will enjoy it very much. It is something that we are putting all our heart and desire into for those who want to see the story. Communities that are not going to see it at all, at least don't fill it with your toxicity or bad vibes.)

Basically excusing himself by "I'm doing good by allowing you to join, please don't let toxicity ruin this". Which was still off, because professional voice actors would be getting payed but somehow the rest wouldn't, weird overall. Several POVs would be recorded but only one would be able to broadcast it, Juan. "we'll pay you with exposure" ahh deal

I haven't followed him since this happened, some claim he then did pay the actors, but even if that were the case, that would've never happened if it weren't for people calling out his exploitative bs. Which is exactly what's happened with the qsmp, only this time it's not a cancellation on twitter dot com, but a whole entire french union.

What I think their fans don't understand is that this is not a mob campaign against their faves, it's about protecting the working class from the privileged who refuse to pay them correctly or sometimes never at all, granting them rights to defend themselves when cases like these arise. This goes for people who claim Juan learned from his mistake, he clearly didn't if his immediate reaction to the union was:

(It's good that they formed a union, so they all hold hands together and fuck off)

So either he's forgotten his "lesson", or he only payed them (if that even happened) because he got caught and wanted to prevent a future cancelation).

[dr-futbol-blog]

The Lost Boys, Pt. 12

Sheppard releases the people stored in the wraith memory device by pressing the release button that McKay had made very easy for him to use, as this was the most important function of the ship in their original plan to get back to Atlantis. However, he does not have enough control of the ship and several of Ford's men fall to their deaths from the platform, and it is only Ronon grabbing on to Kanayo the saves him from the fall.

Ford: Jace! We have to go after them! Teyla: No-one would have survived that fall. Dex: We have to get out of the open.

It is unclear what Jace and Ford's relationship was but obviously the man meant something to Ford is and he is upset about his untimely passing. The way he shouts after the man means that there was some special regard he had for Jace. What is interesting about the the tall blonde dressed in frilly black leather, based on what we learn in The Game (S03), where McKay's avatar is a tall blonde and Sheppard's guy is a leather daddy, is that Jace is like a combination of both of their fantasy figures. I'm not going to make a case for a threesome to have happened while they were working on the dart (they have enough complications between just the two of them, surely) but if ever they were to have one, Jace would have been the perfect candidate for a third. Something was brewing underneath the surface given the looks Jace threw both McKay and Sheppard's way but alas, we got to know him for only a short time.

Sheppard: You guys OK? Ford: No, we are not OK. You beamed half of us off the edge of the platform. Sheppard: Teyla and Ronon? Ford: Is that all you care about? You murdered my men.

Having re-materialized them, Sheppard contacts the strike team via radio and Ford immediately snaps at him, clearly very upset about having lost several men but likely Jace in particular. Ford does not mention who had fallen off, and Sheppard immediately wants to make sure that Ronon and Teyla were not among them, wants to know that they are alright, which is a satisfaction that Ford has no intention of giving him. But note that while Sheppard does care about them very much (we even see him blink once, which is Sheppard's tell for when he feels real fear), he is not incapacitated by not knowing what their fate is. If he learned that they had died as a result of his careless actions, Sheppard would be devastated--but he would still be able to go on. There was a similar situation during The Siege (S02E01) when Sheppard had been unable to contact Atlantis, where he was not sure if McKay had died as the direct result of his actions.

We see him blinking away tears when he hears from them, when he gets through Weir the assurance that McKay had not been killed. If Ford had taken McKay on for this mission and if McKay had been among the people Sheppard had rematerialized and he was uncertain whether McKay was among the living or the dead, he would not be as calm. There had been true desperation in his tone when he tried to re-establish contact with Atlantis. There was true desperation in his voice when he did not know if Kolya had killed McKay at the end of The Storm (S01E10). And where just the thought of McKay having died had thrown him into the deep end both times, there is no telling what believing that McKay had died as the direct result of his own actions would do to him. From Search and Rescue (S05E01), we know that he loses his own will to live and no one wants to find out how far into the dark side it might have pushed Sheppard, least of all himself. But while McKay is never far from his thoughts, he is glad that he is not with them now

The answer to Ford's question is yes. That is literally the only thing that Sheppard cares about in this moment, it is his only concern. He is ready to blow this popsicle stand as soon as he can get Ronon and Teyla away from Ford because the longer he is away from McKay not knowing what has happened to him, the worse his anxiety builds.

Sheppard: I've lost all control of the dart. I had to release you blind. Ford: Maintain radio silence until we've laid the charge. Sheppard: Negative. We need to stay in contact. There's several-- Teyla: You should leave that radio on, Aiden. Ford: Don't tell me what to do.

Now, while Sheppard might be able to draw some conclusions from Ford's tone and his choice of words, it is left entirely ambiguous to Sheppard whether Ronon and Teyla had survived. In many ways, Teyla in Sheppard's best friend. And yet he is able to continue the op without securing the information that they were alright. In fact, he is even trying to help Ford get through it because now that he is here, he might as well go all in if it gives them a better chance of getting out of here. A trained fighter pilot, Sheppard is able to compartmentalize, is able to function under extreme stress, is able to focus on the op. It is McKay that is the exception to his every rule.

Sheppard: Ford? Ford! Ford? Damn it! Sheppard: I'd prefer not to. Oh boy!

Ford tells Teyla not to tell him what to do and at the same time, the autopilot has landed Sheppard and the translation programme McKay had installed for him is telling him what to do. While he is thankful that it both allows him to understand what is going on and it keeps a part of McKay with him on the mission (and by speaking to the screen, he is kind of in dialogue with McKay), he is beginning to realize just how screwed they are here.

The wraith come up to inspect his dart, and we do not know whether this is usual procedure for them or if there had been something different or suspicious about this particular dart in their sensors and they are checking to see what the anomaly is. Regardless, Sheppard is preparing to take action and do note the fact that he is perfectly capable of wise-cracking here. When he thought he had lost McKay, he had been so far beyond words that it looked like he might never come back.

Sheppard: You mind checking the oil? This is not good!

Like with most wise-cracking heroes, it is partially a strategy to relieve tension but partially it is also meant to confuse and befuddle the enemy. And finding a human inside one of their darts is certainly confusing enough for the wraith, never mind the fact that the human is behaving very strangely. Sheppard manages to take out two of the drone soldiers with his P-90, and here we see precisely what might have befallen Ford if his men had not been holding McKay hostage earlier when he returned Sheppard's weapon to him. But shooting up the drones causes an alarm to ring throughout the hive which seems to be Sheppard's cue to get out of dodge. Earlier, he had said that he would prefer not to leave the dart and it is entirely possible he would have wanted to stay there, in the cockpit of a ship that McKay had lovingly prepared for him, given that it was their ticket out of there. But now it seemed like he had no choice but the trek further into the hive.

Ford: Sheppard, you there? Sheppard, you there? Sheppard: I think I might have set the alarm off. You guys be careful, 'cause there's probably some guards on the way.

The alarm is enough for Ford to get over his upset and he contacts Sheppard, who is a little busy to be chatting as he is mowing his way through the wraith. He stops to reload his gun and picks up on Ford, and gives him a sitrep still not knowing whether Ronon and Teyla had survived and were with Ford. He tells Ford and his men to be careful, and we see him try to be careful himself because he has every intention of getting away from here. He has no intention of dying on the hive and leaving McKay with some Pegasus hillbillies never knowing what had happened to them. Speaking of which...

McKay: Aww, do y--? Henchman: Want some? McKay: No, I'm good, thanks. Henchman: Sure? McKay: Yeah, pretty sure.

Ford's men have brought McKay back to the cave, and he is sitting by the table where they had first found themselves with bags over their heads. Only two men seem to have stayed behind with him and one of them is guarding him with a riffle, which implies that Ford had given them instructions to keep a careful eye on him. The other man is shooting up enzyme right out in the open and McKay seems to find this more than a little distasteful (it seems like what he intended to say was "Aww, do you have to do that here?" before he cut himself off). He seems nervous, wringing his hands, but he is still trying to keep himself in check so as not to make his situation worse. But there was only so much he could be asked to take.

McKay: Look, don't you think that they should be back by now, huh? I mean, how long does it take to fly there and fly back, you know? I mean, I say it's a minute from here to the gate, ten tops from their gate to the hive ship, twenty to get in and lay a charge and then, then, what? Like, ten more to get, get back out and home, right? So... Henchman: Worrying really isn't going to do anything. McKay: Yeah, well, I subscribe to a different school of thought.

McKay gets up and starts pacing from one man to another, and we can hear that he is out of breath not from exertion from but from sheer anxiety. His voice is also breaking as he is clearly starting to spiral. We have seen McKay dissociate in tense situations before but he seems unable to do that here, he is much too anxious. And where dissociation seems to distort his perception of time, here it is like he has actually been keeping count of the time that they have been gone. He is acutely aware of time passing.

I frequently check the transcripts while I am going through the episodes and it is fascinating how often not acknowledging the special relationship between Sheppard and McKay has led them to odd mental gymnastics to explain the behaviour of the characters. Here, GateWorld.net explains McKay's behaviour with "He's clearly really hyped up on the drug, pacing around, nervous and almost unable to speak." My guy, McKay has been off the juice since before they started fixing up the dart and he just explicitly verbally declined an offer to take some of the enzyme. Based on Teyla's "They were an hour late delivering our doses yesterday," McKay has been clean for days by this time. He is not hyped up on the drug. He is anxious because he is worried. It is all him, it is all his natural response to not knowing what is happening to Sheppard (and the rest of the team).

Now, it is true that McKay's reaction here is similar to when he was first given the enzyme, when he was having "chills and hot flashes, chills and hot flashes again and again." And this tells us two things: Sheppard may have been correct about his symptoms (mostly, early on) having been psychosomatic; clearly he is capable of whipping himself into a frenzy without the aid of drugs. But it also tells us that he is jonesing for Sheppard as bad if not worse than he was for the enzyme. He is addicted to Sheppard and his withdrawals started less than an hour in.

And given that the scenes are back to back, we are asked to compare McKay and Weir's reactions to Sheppard being missing here. Weir is doing work and now that the team has been gone for several days, she is worried that something must have happened to them. She adds it to the report that is meant to be sent to SGC via databurst, and she chokes up when intending to add the words "--and presumed dead." She leaves this part out, not ready to give them up yet. Granted that Weir is not very expressive when it comes to emotions, this is her several days into their absence. She is still able to function normally, she is still able to concentrate on doing actual work. She is concerned.

McKay has reached a state of worry several times greater in a matter of minutes. In fact, he counts the exact amount of minutes that Sheppard has been away from him. He knows to the goddamn second how long they have been apart. One of these reactions is played for dramatic effect, the other for comedy. Because McKay is the clownish side-kick. His reaction is hilarious because it is so overblown. Only, it is only overblown if you see them as colleagues, people who work together. We started the whole episode with McKay complaining about having to be a part of this mission to begin with, surely he would rather be in his lab doing science and leaving the heroics to the heroes. But it is all much less amusing when we consider McKay's personal history, we consider the trajectory of their relationship both broadly and more recently, how important Sheppard is to McKay, how much he needs him. This is a man in genuine distress, and as such he is not afraid to get into anyone's face about it.

Henchman: They're fine! McKay: You can't possibly know that! Henchman: I got a gut feeling. McKay: Yeah, well, I have a different gut. ...Feeling.

What ever Ford may have told Jace about McKay, these men seem not to know or even care to know who Rodney McKay is and why people put importance on his life. McKay's skills and abilities are what make him indispensable, and it is entirely possible that he has honed these skills precisely because his childhood environment had been unstable and by making himself irreplaceable he had attempted to secure his place in the world, to win the respect of people if he could not earn their love. As Ford's henchmen get up and start intimidating him like high school bullies, he is suddenly reminded of the fact that he is all alone here, and there is no one to protect him. There is no Sheppard here to have his back. There is no Ronon or Teyla, or even Ford to stay these men's hands from doing anything they like to him. Not only are these men bigger than he is and armed, they are also hopped up on the enzyme, making them physically superior to him in every way. Whether the enzyme also makes the users dumber and more aggressive is not clear, but be it the juice or their natural disposition, it is obvious that these are not good men. And even McKay, as little attention as he has paid them, is able to see as much.

It is interesting that there is an element of sexualized violence in their intimidation here. They get very close to McKay, box him in from all sides as we cut away and are left wondering his fate. This is also paralleled by the fact that the episode ends with the wraith queen forcing Sheppard down on his knees in front of her, which also contains more than echoes of sexual violence. Both Sheppard and McKay are facing similar perils, cut off from each other, unable to help the other man and in dire need of the other's help. Significant is also the fact that we cut from McKay's line "Feeling..." directly to Sheppard because it is with Sheppard that his his feeling and all of his thoughts are. His whole rant had been about him missing Sheppard and suddenly he missed Sheppard in a whole other way. The reference to gut feelings is also curious, and may have some bearing on the ending of the next episode and how McKay seems to get a gut feeling regarding Sheppard from the Daedalus. He does have a different gut now that the Ancient gene has been activated in him. But old gut or new, he feels hollow when Sheppard is gone.

Continued in Pt. 13

[geekysciencemom]

I wanted to get the word out about what is currently happening in regards to Section 504.

Section 504 is an important law that protects people with disabilities. Section 504 says you can’t discriminate against disabled people if you get money from the United States government.

Schools have their own rules regarding Section 504. Students who don't qualify for an IEP will often be placed on a 504 Plan. This plan helps make the learning environment accessible to the student who has the plan. Within this plan, you will find the accommodations that the student needs to be successful at school. A student can have academic accommodations in both the K-12 and college settings. College students can also get living accommodations if they live on campus. People can also request accommodations in the work place.

Health and Human Services have their own rules for people with disabilities when it comes to providing access to medical health care, this includes dentists and behavioral health. There is a wide range of accommodations that health providers are required to provide under Section 504.

This is all thanks to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which Section 504 is included, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is attached to Section 504.

Section 504 regulations were signed in 1977. Last year, the rule was updated. This was done due to what happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among other important protections, the rule now covers:

Discrimination in medical treatment: The rule addresses discrimination in medical care and ensures that medical treatment decisions are not based on biases or stereotypes about people with disabilities, judgments that an individual will be a burden on others, or beliefs that the life of an individual with a disability has less value than the life of a person without a disability. These include, for example, decisions about life-sustaining treatment, organ transplantation, and rationing care in emergencies.

Community integration: The rule clarifies obligations to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C.

Accessibility of medical equipment: The rule adopts the U.S. Access Board’s accessibility standards for medical equipment to address barriers to care, like exam tables that are inaccessible because they are not height-adjustable, weight scales that cannot accommodate people in wheelchairs, and mammogram machines that require an individual to stand to use them. The rule requires most doctors’ offices to have an accessible exam table and weight scale within two years.

Web, mobile app, and kiosk accessibility: The rule adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA accessibility standards for websites and mobile applications. It also requires web-enabled systems in self-service kiosks in medical providers’ offices to be accessible. These provisions are particularly important given the increased use of websites, apps, telehealth, video platforms, and self-service kiosks to access health care.

Value assessment methods: Value assessment methods are often used to decide whether a medical treatment will be provided and under what circumstances. The rule prohibits the use of any measure, assessment, or tool that discounts the value of a life extension on the basis of disability to deny, limit, or otherwise condition access to an aid, benefit, or service.

Section 504 is now under attack. There is a court case happening right now where 17 states are trying to end Section 504. If they succeed in ending this foundational law, the laws attached to it (the ADA and civil rights laws pertaining to race and sex) will be in jeopardy.

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) provides additional information about the court case as well as steps to take to protect Section 504.

"This page explains what the lawsuit Texas v. Becerra is, how Texas v. Becerra threatens Section 504, and why Section 504 is important. Further down on this page, learn what you can do to help."

[sipenvs3000w25]

Unit 5- Citizen Scientists and Creativity

Science is often viewed as the domain of experts—locked away in research labs, academic journals, and institutions. However, the rise of citizen science is proving that anyone with curiosity and a willingness to learn can contribute meaningfully to scientific discovery. Making science accessible empowers communities, enriches our understanding of the natural world, and fosters a deeper appreciation for conservation efforts.

A fantastic example of this is Washington Wachira, a wildlife ecologist, nature photographer, and safari guide whose passion for birds has inspired many. In his TED Talk, Wachira highlights the importance of bird databases in Africa and how technology is bridging the gap between scientists and the public. His work showcases how everyday people, equipped with nothing more than a smartphone, can contribute valuable data to ornithological research.

For many, computers are a luxury. However, as smartphones become increasingly common, apps are providing a more accessible way to engage with science. Whether it’s using apps like eBird or iNaturalist to document bird sightings, or participating in conservation programs through mobile platforms, technology is revolutionizing how people interact with the natural world. This accessibility ensures that more voices, especially from underrepresented regions, are included in global scientific discussions.

Wachira’s enthusiasm for birds is infectious, bringing to mind one of the first nature documentaries I ever watched—Netflix's Dancing with the Birds (2019). This film masterfully captures some of the world’s most extraordinary birds—particularly the birds of paradise—and showcases their mesmerizing mating rituals. The stunning visuals of these creatures in New Guinea’s untouched forests make a compelling case for preserving such fragile ecosystems. To me, this documentary represents a beautiful intersection of science and art—two powerful lenses through which we can interpret and appreciate nature. This fusion not only bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and artistic expression but also strengthens outreach, engaging both the scientific and creative communities in a more profound way.

The importance of citizen science in environmental education is well-documented. In their article Evaluating Environmental Education, Citizen Science, and Stewardship through Naturalist Programs, Merenlender and colleagues explore how hands-on participation in science fosters environmental stewardship. The study emphasizes that engaging people in nature-based learning experiences leads to stronger conservation efforts and a deeper connection with the environment. When individuals actively contribute to scientific research—whether by tracking bird migrations, monitoring water quality, or identifying plant species—they develop a personal stake in environmental issues.

Citizen science breaks down barriers to knowledge. It transforms people from passive consumers of information into active participants in discovery. By increasing access to scientific tools and data, we empower communities to take an active role in conservation. Washington Wachira’s work, the stunning imagery of Dancing With The Birds, and the research on environmental education all point to one truth: science belongs to everyone. The more accessible we make it, the more we all benefit—from individual learners to entire ecosystems.

This male Red-Capped Manakin snaps its wings and performs the lively "moonwalk" on a branch to attract a female's attention. This is one of many birds highlighted in Netflix's Documentary Dancing with The Birds- I highly recommend!

[generouslywanderingpriest]

Video Agent: The Future of AI-Powered Content Creation

The rise of AI-generated content has transformed how businesses and creators produce videos. Among the most innovative tools is the video agent, an AI-driven solution that automates video creation, editing, and optimization. Whether for marketing, education, or entertainment, video agents are redefining efficiency and creativity in digital media.

In this article, we explore how AI-powered video agents work, their benefits, and their impact on content creation.

What Is a Video Agent?

A video agent is an AI-based system designed to assist in video production. Unlike traditional editing software, it leverages machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) to automate tasks such as:

Scriptwriting – Generates engaging scripts based on keywords.

Voiceovers – Converts text to lifelike speech in multiple languages.

Editing – Automatically cuts, transitions, and enhances footage.

Personalization – Tailors videos for different audiences.

These capabilities make video agents indispensable for creators who need high-quality content at scale.

How AI Video Generators Work

The core of a video agent lies in its AI algorithms. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Input & Analysis

Users provide a prompt (e.g., "Create a 1-minute explainer video about AI trends"). The AI video generator analyzes the request and gathers relevant data.

2. Content Generation

Using GPT-based models, the system drafts a script, selects stock footage (or generates synthetic visuals), and adds background music.

3. Editing & Enhancement

The video agent refines the video by:

Adjusting pacing and transitions.

Applying color correction.

Syncing voiceovers with visuals.

4. Output & Optimization

The final video is rendered in various formats, optimized for platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or LinkedIn.

Benefits of Using a Video Agent

Adopting an AI-powered video generator offers several advantages:

1. Time Efficiency

Traditional video production takes hours or days. A video agent reduces this to minutes, allowing rapid content deployment.

2. Cost Savings

Hiring editors, voice actors, and scriptwriters is expensive. AI eliminates these costs while maintaining quality.

3. Scalability

Businesses can generate hundreds of personalized videos for marketing campaigns without extra effort.

4. Consistency

AI ensures brand voice and style remain uniform across all videos.

5. Accessibility

Even non-experts can create professional videos without technical skills.

Top Use Cases for Video Agents

From marketing to education, AI video generators are versatile tools. Key applications include:

1. Marketing & Advertising

Personalized ads – AI tailors videos to user preferences.

Social media content – Quickly generates clips for Instagram, Facebook, etc.

2. E-Learning & Training

Automated tutorials – Simplifies complex topics with visuals.

Corporate training – Creates onboarding videos for employees.

3. News & Journalism

AI-generated news clips – Converts articles into video summaries.

4. Entertainment & Influencers

YouTube automation – Helps creators maintain consistent uploads.

Challenges & Limitations

Despite their advantages, video agents face some hurdles:

1. Lack of Human Touch

AI may struggle with emotional nuance, making some videos feel robotic.

2. Copyright Issues

Using stock footage or AI-generated voices may raise legal concerns.

3. Over-Reliance on Automation

Excessive AI use could reduce creativity in content creation.

The Future of Video Agents

As AI video generation improves, we can expect:

Hyper-realistic avatars – AI-generated presenters indistinguishable from humans.

Real-time video editing – Instant adjustments during live streams.

Advanced personalization – AI predicting viewer preferences before creation.

[askanautistic]

(1/2) One of my special interests is a 1960s cartoon that is a huge mess in every possible way (repetitive, mediocre animation, etc). It makes me happy but it still embarrasses me too much to talk about it with most people. Although the obscurity and lack of content made me really desperate, my biggest barrier is the fact that it is the fact that it's very politically incorrect by today's standards. I'm fully aware of it and I'm critical of all of my interests but I'm more worried about people

(2/2) taking it the wrong way and being uncomfortable. I also really want the DVD set with the full series except I'm too embarrassed to ask for it. On a more positive note, I have an idea for a fanfic where I will turn it into a serious thing. It will address all of the issues, and I have a very genius way on how I will reframe canon. I am also writing one of the main characters as (undiagnosed) autistic, and although I don't have a plot yet I do know it will center around him.

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Are you just hoping for some support, or reassurance? An opinion? Realistically very few things are morally perfect because no person is morally perfect. And society's attitudes and expectations towards things change over time. The most acceptable terminology can change. So even things that seem 'good' now might not be viewed as being quite as 'good' in the future. There are lots of things that age poorly based on people becoming more educated over time.

It often becomes a case of weighing everything up:

thinking about why we enjoy something or what parts of something we enjoy. Is it just nostalgic, is it certain characters, or is it the problematic content itself (which would probably be a bit of an issue and might suggest that it might be an unhealthy interest)?

thinking about how we're engaging and whether the way we engage is harmful. Watching a show in private vs watching it openly where people might be uncomfortable or uncertain of your opinions on the negative aspects of that particular media? Watching a pre-owned DVD, or adding to ratings by watching on TV/buying a ticket to see something.

Is the creator (still) problematic (or, if they are dead, did they learn and grow and change before they passed)? People can be ignorant, can make mistakes, and can then learn from those mistakes and grow and do better. I'm not interested in cancelling someone who posted something horrible on their Twitter account 12 years ago but have since matured/worked to improve and no longer hold those views. If that person had included something problematic in a novel or song they wrote, I'd probably be able to overlook it if they'd recognised they were wrong, apologised and made effort to make up for it and to do better in future.

Is the creator still alive? (Does death of the author apply?) So if you buy or are bought the boxset, will that benefit the creator of the show? Roald Dahl is a dead raging antisemite and Kanye West is a living raging antisemite. As a Jewish person, I wouldn't be as uncomfortable seeing someone openly reading one of Dahl's book on a train as I would hearing someone listening to West's music. I know Dahl isn't benefitting from someone purchasing or reading his book, and I know it's likely that a current reader might not be aware of Dahl's antisemitism. Whereas I'd know West is benefitting from a listener's support, and that his antisemitism is so public it's unlikely that someone listening to him isn't aware of it. [I wonder whether 'death of the author' will apply less in the future with so many current creators and celebrities being platformed so prolifically on social media/the internet in general.]

weighing up the issues vs the good. Is this media generally just awful, or are there positives? How offensive or problematic are the negative bits? Mild enough it can be overlooked or criticised without having to throw out the entire show, or strong/vile enough that there's no redemption possible?

the intent of the creator (ignorance that can be rectified, or intentional harm?), and the impact it had on audiences at the time and what the impact would be on audiences now. OR was it satire? Sometimes content that seems bigoted is poking fun at the bigots, but people misconstrue the content or cannot reconcile their discomfort with the intention (perhaps the bigotry is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable).

whether your engagement with something you have deemed to be problematic can be used for good. People often engage with outdated and problematic media to educate themselves, to understand the argument or point of view, to learn about social climate or to understand the creator, to be better able to debate with people who support the content, to write informative reviews or critiques, to educate. So consumption isn't always a sign that someone agrees with whatever it is they're consuming. Or it might be research into how to recreate and improve something - like you describing taking the good aspects to create it how you'd like it to be. We can't always ignore outdated media just because it has content that would no longer be acceptable - sweeping it under the rug, so to speak, creates the illusion that there were never issues with things like very open and public displays of racism or sexism in the past. This interest, as much as it brings you joy, could possibly also be used to educate. It can also be useful sometimes to point out media that was more progressive around the same time as problematic media, to show that it's not just a sign of the times, or excusable.

Thinking about these things might make you feel more confident in asking for the boxset, if you still want it, and feeling able to explain to people why you're interested in it and making it clear you recognise there are issues with it.

If you find any of my posts helpful please consider leaving me a tip.

[daniellehelenamusic]

A Truly Beautiful Thing Happened Recently, And I Want To Talk About It...

As an avid TikTok watcher while folding my laundry, washing dishes, and prepping meals, I was severely heartbroken when TikTok went dark. My free entertainment and education were gone. My beautiful community of strangers was suddenly taken away. And even though it is back up and running at the time of my writing this, a part of it died, and we may not get it back. It feels like when your car gets stolen or broken into…even if it survives; it is tainted a bit. If you know, you know.

So, instead of turning to the Meta platforms or my TV, I immediately downloaded Xiaohongshu, a Chinese version of Pinterest or Instagram with a video section. I swear their video algorithm already knew who I was and immediately fed me the gardening, cooking, and DIY content I love. And something magical happened in the comment sections of these videos. Us TikTok refugees entered a space foreign to most and were welcomed with open arms and Mandarin lessons. We exchanged information about our day-to-day lives, like the cost of living, our healthcare system, and our overall quality of life. We saw the humanity in each other and learned that location and language are the only things keeping us disconnected. And with a translate button quickly solving the language barrier, we are now globally connected through an algorithm based on shared interests. It is pretty amazing for everyday people. It is quite dangerous for the billionaires.

Keeping us divided and dependent on their paycheck is the billionaires’ method of distracting us while they rob us all blind. And there are billions of us and less than 3000 of them. I’m not the voice of a revolution, but we need to be more upset. These same billionaires have lobbied governments worldwide to get away with selling cheap, harmful products while pricing out any competition and stealing from smaller brands that lack the financial resources to fight back. They have poisoned our air, our water, and our soil so that they can line their pockets to afford private jets and super yachts. And they’ve even gone as far as removing our reproductive rights so that women are forced to birth more workers (or prison laborers). They’ve purchased our media, so we aren’t allowed to speak ill of them on their networks. And they’ve invested in artificial intelligence because they wanted more slaves.

“All I wanna say is that they don’t really care about us.” - MJ

I believe you can be an ethical millionaire because I know plenty of them. But an ethical billionaire does not exist. They stole from somebody. And I wish the millionaires would realize many of them are closer to the poverty line than they are to the billionaires, but I digress…


Through our beautiful cultural exchange on Xiaohongshu, we learned that we are all brothers and sisters. We enjoy similar things, and we have similar wants and needs. Our governments have a complicated relationship, but that has nothing to do with our bond with each other as fellow humans. The East has so much to teach the West if we are willing to learn. I know I am. I’ve already started looking up recipes incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine and ways to move or massage my body to promote blood flow, improve energy levels, and balance hormones.

I say all that to say our governments don’t care about us, and the billionaires that indirectly (and in some cases directly) control our governments don’t care about us, so it’s up to us to build community, exchange knowledge and resources, and fight for our collective best interests. Independence from the systems that keep them in control is the level of wealth I seek. We all deserve that kind of freedom.

[academypsychscene]

Transforming Psychiatry Education – Learn, Grow, and Lead with Psych Scene Academy

Mental health care is evolving, and as professionals, we have a responsibility to stay ahead. At Psych Scene Academy, we provide a cutting-edge learning experience designed for mental health professionals who are passionate about improving patient care and advancing their expertise.

Why Learning Never Stops in Psychiatry

Mental health is complex, and every patient presents a unique challenge. As research progresses, new discoveries emerge, and clinical guidelines evolve. Whether you're a psychiatrist, psychologist, GP, or mental health practitioner, staying updated is crucial.

That’s why we’ve created a platform where you can access practical, evidence-based courses that bridge the gap between theory and real-world clinical practice.

What You Can Learn at Psych Scene Academy

🎓 Adult ADHD Mastery – Understand the nuances of diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults. 🧠 The Neuropsychiatry of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Long Covid – Learn the latest insights into these emerging conditions. 📈 Private Practice Success for Psychiatrists – Gain essential business and patient care strategies for a thriving practice. ⚖ Managing Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain & Metabolic Syndrome – Discover strategies to help your patients manage side effects. 💊 Psychopharmacology & Advanced Treatment Strategies – Stay ahead with the latest research in medication management.

All courses are CPD/CME accredited, meaning you can earn professional development points while expanding your knowledge.

What Makes Psych Scene Academy Different?

✅ Expert-Led Learning – Learn from experienced psychiatrists and specialists. ✅ Flexible, Self-Paced Courses – Study whenever and wherever it suits you. ✅ Real-World Case Studies – Practical insights you can immediately apply in your practice. ✅ Interactive & Engaging Content – Video lessons, downloadable resources, and in-depth discussions. ✅ Free CPD Portfolio Tracker – Keep track of your learning progress effortlessly.

Elevate Your Practice with Knowledge

Great mental health care starts with great knowledge. By continually learning and refining your skills, you not only enhance your career but also improve the lives of your patients. Join thousands of professionals who trust Psych Scene Academy to take their expertise to the next level.

Start your journey today! Visit Psych Scene Academy and explore our courses now.

[charlotteswebbbbb]

What's the vibe? #83

such good photos by Alex Huanfa Cheng

Hi hi hi, back again with more stuff.

News:

Elon Musk Tesla restaurant? Maybe big problem?

"The restaurant’s head chef will be Eric Greenspan, Merritt reports. Greenspan is an LA-based chef who’s appeared on Iron Chef Americaand multiple shows from chef/TV host Guy Fieri, whose comments in relation to President Donald Trump are not as supportively full-throated as Musk’s, but are definitely not resistant to his agenda. Perhaps that’s why the Instagram account Merritt claims is for the business has “Diner, drive-in movie and big chargers” as its profile description, arguably a take on Fieri’s series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." - sounds....tasteless.

New Spike Jonze Apple ad, ok.

Cross cultural collaboration:

These three countries are working together to

"The three countries called for their negotiations for a comprehensive trilateral free-trade agreement to be speeded up, and agreed to create "a predictable trade and investment environment", a statement said."

"The three countries account for 20 percent of the world's population, 24 percent of the global economy, and 19 percent of global merchandise trade, he said." - Chinese official Wang Liping 

In soft power news...

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Man Repelling in gen:

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(Early Noughties/Nineties) Earnestness

So a few weeks ago Haim released the track "relationships". All lower case btw. Their music video was directed by Camille Summers Valli and featured Drew Starkey.

The single art was a parody of Nicole Kidman's walking divorce photo. You know the one she did post-Tom? The other promo photos feel hyper real almost like...

Prada's work with photographer Norbert Schoerner (1998?)

Why do I mention all of these details today? Because I feel like this hyper real style of early noughts/90s style is coming back. Fashion wise but also in the most kind of "let's be honest" kind of way.

Next example being Wet Leg who just released their new track 'catch these fists' - all lower case, you catch my drift?

And these promo photos, by Iris Luz wearing Ashley Williams socks and giving of sly slouch vibes.

And I don't know... maybe John Malkovich for The Face? Also reminds me of the seminal text: Being John Malkovich by Spike Jonze...in which they wear Prada lol

I think I would even drag this hypothesis to outside of this to art with the artist Martine Sims whose exhibition at Lafayettes Anticipations in Paris finished months ago. It has this chaotic real vibe to it. It's life.

I would even extend it into this upward trend of longform videos coming back. People say YouTube isn't coming back but maybe people are watching longer videos on the platform countering the super short TikTok experience. But also this yearning to learn, to connect, to peer into other people's journeys and lives.

According to Digiday, "The number of 20-plus minute-long videos creators around the world are uploading to YouTube each month has increased from 1.3 million in July 2022 to 8.5 million in June 2024, according to data from Tubular Labs."

I mean... in China 60 second dramas are popular...

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How unique are you?

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What it means to have weird little hobbies during a chaotic time?

How to find weird little hobbies? (This is sold out but it's a series of events by Trippin')